Civil servant who juggled five jobs 'wasn't thinking straight'
A UK civil servant is on trial for fraud after allegedly holding five full-time government jobs simultaneously. The defendant claims he was overwhelmed and not thinking clearly when he misled employers about his employment status.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential vulnerabilities in remote work oversight and public sector employment verification processes.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Kashim Chowdhury wears dark sunglasses, a hat, hoody and gloves as he arrives at court. His face is largely obscured.
A civil servant accused of fraudulently juggling multiple public sector jobs has told the court he "wasn't thinking straight" when he allegedly misled future bosses about his employment status.
Kashim Chowdhury said he was "in a panic" when he applied for a job at the Department of Health (DHSC), failing to declare he was already working at the Department for the Environment (Defra).
The prosecution said he already had three full-time jobs at the time, including roles at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and East London NHS Trust.
The 55-year-old, who is from east London, is on trial accused of nine counts of fraud. He denies acting dishonestly or intending to make a dishonest gain.
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